Multiple interactive electronic program guide system and methods

ABSTRACT

A multiple Interactive Program Guide (IPG) system provides different television programming and different IPGs to several different users respectively. A single set-top box is capable of providing programming and scheduling data to several different television sets. Each of the different IPGs share a common database. Therefore, a first IPG being viewed by a first user can display data added or modified via a second IPG by a second user of the system. Furthermore, the data added or modified by the second user can influence the viewing rights of the first user. Also, all the competing and conflicting requests for limited resources, such as VCR scheduled recordings, will be brought to the users&#39; attention and will be displayed by the system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the following applications:provisional Application No. 60/094,564, filed Jul. 29, 1998, entitled“Interactive Program Guide Product Definition”; Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/123,294, filed Mar. 4, 1999, entitled “Electronic Program GuideSystem and Methods for Displaying Programs and Advertising”; andprovisional Application No. 60/135,004, filed May 20, 1999, entitled“Multiple Interactive Program Guides.” The above-identified applicationsbeing incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electronic interactiveprogram guides (IPGs), and more particularly to a system for managingand displaying multiple IPGs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The earliest versions of on-screen electronic program guides (EPG)provided for the storage of program schedule information in anelectronic memory connected to a television (TV) receiver and generallyprovided for the on-screen formatting and display of the programschedule information on the TV screen. The early EPGs typically overlaidthe TV programming and were extremely limited as to viewer interaction.

Later EPGs provided improvements in viewer EPG interaction and alsoprovided a Picture-In-Guide (“PIG”) display of the TV programsimultaneous with the display of the EPG. International Application No.PCT/US95/11173 (International Publication No. WO 96/07270), thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes, illustrates such an improvement. However, each of these IPGsrequires a set-top box or a computer. Thus, in a household with severalTV sets, several set-top boxes are needed. This increases the cost ofhaving multiple TV sets in a house. Additionally, different users withdifferent TV watching tastes and habits do not have the flexibility ofcustomizing an IPG to their needs. Furthermore, it is difficult andtime-consuming for parents to exercise parental control over severalIPGs that are not related to and do not communicate with each other.

Therefore, there is a need for a multiple IPG system in a single set-topbox or a single computer wherein the IPGs share some data and arecapable of notifying users of any competing and conflicting resources.There is also a need for a centralized parental control over themultiple IPGs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multiple IPG system. Embodied in asingle set-top box, the system provides different TV programming anddifferent IPGs to several different users respectively. The singleset-top box is capable of providing programming and scheduling data toseveral different TV sets. Moreover, each of the different IPGs sharesome common data stored in a common database with each other. Therefore,a first IPG being viewed by a first user can display data added ormodified via a second IPG by a second user of the system. Furthermore,the data added or modified by the second user can influence the viewingrights of the first user. Also, all the competing and conflictingrequests for limited resources, such as VCR scheduled recordings, arebrought to the users' attention and displayed or prompted by the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a network of a data center head end, a network operator headend, and an IPG device.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a set-up box that supports three sourcesand three TV sets.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram of a software architecture for a system thatsupports three IPGs.

FIG. 2 is a Channel Guide featuring a “carousel” at the top thatincludes a graphical icon for the channel being displayed, and texticons for adjoining channels in the user's customized lineup.

FIG. 3 is a Grid Guide format and illustrates common components ofguides.

FIG. 4 is an IPG for displaying further graphical branding.

FIG. 5 is an IPG system page when the user presses GUIDE while viewingTV.

FIG. 6 is a screen for when the beginning of a show appears to extendbeyond the left edge of the guide.

FIG. 7 is interactive promotions within an IPG.

FIG. 8 is an interactive billboard.

FIG. 9 is a Themes screen.

FIG. 10 is a Theme Guide with multiple episodes.

FIG. 11 is a Theme sub-categories.

FIG. 12 is a Theme Guide sorted by time.

FIG. 13 is a Theme Guide when there are no titles available or theuser's selected sub-category.

FIG. 14 is a Theme Guide with episode sub-screen.

FIG. 15 is a Theme Day warning.

FIG. 16 is “Press SELECT for more titles” command in the last row on ascreen when all the programs for the sub-category in the buffer can notbe fit in a single screen.

FIG. 17 is a menu system tree.

FIG. 18 is a Main menu.

FIG. 19 is a partial menu globe on the Main menu.

FIG. 20 is a caller ID pop-up.

FIG. 21 is a caller ID pop-up over a guide screen.

FIG. 22 is a message waiting pop-up.

FIG. 23 is a Telephone Services menu.

FIG. 24 is a caller ID setup (Turn Caller ID OFF).

FIG. 25 is a caller ID setup (Turn Caller ID ON).

FIG. 26 is a caller ID setup (Set Caller ID Display Time).

FIG. 27 is a parental password prompt for the Caller ID Log.

FIG. 28 is a Caller ID Log.

FIG. 29 is a Delete item from Caller ID Log pop-up.

FIG. 30 is a Messages Setup for turning messages off/on and setting themessage display time.

FIG. 31 is a television screen displaying a Scheduled Events List.

FIG. 32 is a television screen displaying a prompt window for notifyinga user who is requesting a PPV purchase that has already been scheduled.

FIG. 33 is a television screen displaying VCHIP Plus+ functions.

FIG. 34 is a television screen displaying selection of TV Ratings forblocking.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart of a master password operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overall System

An embodiment of the invention is a system that provides customers withmultiple instantly accessible electronic IPGs. The multiple IPG systemenables users to view TV programs and schedule information in each IPG.Preferably, each IPG comprises a Grid Guide, a Channel Guide, and aTheme Guide. Each IPG receives, stores, and displays program titles andinformation and share some of the information with other IPGs. Theformat and some features of an IPG are described in the U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/120,488, filed on Jul., 21, 1998 and entitled“SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING AND RECORDING CONTROL INTERFACE WITHTELEVISION PROGRAMS, VIDEO, ADVERTISING INFORMATION AND PROGRAMSCHEDULING INFORMATION” the disclosures of which is hereby incorporatedby reference as if set forth herein in its entirety.

Preferably, the multiple IPGs are embodied in a single set-top box. Inan alternative embodiment, the IPGs may reside in a single computerconnected to multiple TV sets or multiple displays. In yet anotherembodiment, the IPGs may reside in a single electronic device withcapabilities for displaying TV programs on multiple TV sets. The IPGsmay reside on a device which is capable of downloading the IPGs intoanother device which can display the IPGs on multiple TV sets ormultiple displays. In yet another embodiment, the IPGs may reside inmultiple electronic devices or set top boxes, however, they would stillshare data such as an Scheduled Events List including, for example, anaggregate list for all individual recordings and series recordings,future PPV purchases, and scheduled tunes.

An IPG user uses a remote control with IPG keys labeled GUIDE, INFO,etc. to display colorful, high-resolution program guides, screens, andpop-ups on the TV. Each IPG can be configured to allow the user tosearch programs by time and theme to get additional information aboutprograms, and to browse to see what is on other channels while stillwatching a program.

Each IPG can be configured so that users can tailor their channel lineupby blocking out channels they seldom watch and placing their favoritechannels at the beginning of the list.

The multiple IPG system includes a comprehensive network of data centersand data broadcasting equipment that enables users to receive programdata in their homes. FIG. 1 shows a network 1 of a data center headend20, a network operator headend 30, and an IPG device 40.

In one embodiment of the invention, a data center headend receivesupdated program information from multiple data sources.

The data from various sources is merged at the data center headend inpreparation to be sent to the network operators. The data is sent, usingthe FTP protocol, from the data center headend via the Internet 50 tothe Download Server 60 of the network operator head end and then sentvia hybrid fiber-coax 70 to an IPG device. The network operator headendreceives the most recent schedule data whenever it downloads data fromthe data center headend.

The network operator can specify the number of days of programinformation displayed in the guides, the number of channels covered inthe guides, and the amount of show descriptions. The network operatorcan also specify the number of formats of the guide.

If an IPG is configured to manage and control VCR recordings, then theIPG device includes an infrared signal transmitter used to send infraredcommands to the VCR. If the IPG is configured to exclude an automaticrecording feature, then the IPG device does not need to include aninfrared signal transmitter.

An IPG user interacts with the respective IPG by using a remote controlto send commands to the respective receiver in an IPG device. In oneembodiment, the receiver is an infrared or UHF receiver. An examplecommand is the GUIDE command. The Grid Guide displays programinformation in a grid format. To view the Grid Guide, an IPG userpresses the GUIDE key on the remote control; the command is sent to theinfrared or UHF receiver and then the IPG device passes a key to theIPG, which displays the Grid Guide.

The Grid Guide displays a grid of program title, channel, and time slotinformation for a configurable number of channels. The guide displaysinformation for the current day and up to N days in the future,depending on the amount of memory available. In one embodiment, N is sixdays. Each IPG can display Music Choice channels in the Grid Guide andallow the user to tune to these channels or lock them out.

Each IPG provides the user with an interface including a variety ofcolorful, high-resolution on-screen program guides, screens, and pop-upwindows that the user displays by pressing keys on the remote control.An IPG may vary depending on the amount of memory allocated for scheduleinformation and the feature set specified by the network operator.Depending on the amount of memory available and the specification of thenetwork operator, the number of days and channels displayed in theguides and the amount of program descriptions can vary.

Each IPG can be configured so that users can see additional information,such as plot, actors, and rating for a program by pressing the INFO orSELECT keys while viewing a guide. The IPG can also include capabilitiesthat allow the user to schedule VCR recordings from a guide. While thecursor is on one of the programs in a guide, the user presses INFO orSELECT to display the Info pop-up for that program.

Programs can be searched by theme using the IPG Theme Guide selection.The Theme Guide selection enables users to select programs by categoryand sub-category, rather than just by time, channel, or title. Once theuser selects a category, such as MOVIES, and then selects asub-category, such as ALL MOVIES, the programs that fit the sub-categoryare displayed on the Theme Guide. Once in the Theme Guide screen, theuser can sort programs by time, by channel, and alphabetically. Thenetwork operator can configure and manipulate the theme categories andsub-categories for the Theme guide.

Each IPG can be configured to allow users to tailor the program guidesby selecting which channels to display in the guides and which channelsthe respective IPG device tunes to when the user channel surfs. Userscan deselect channels that they seldom watch. Deselected channels arenot displayed on the guides and are skipped over when the user tuneswith the CH↑ or CH↓ keys on a remote control. Users can change thechannel order to place their most watched channels at the top of thelist. Users can also select channels through the Favorite Channelsscreen. The respective IPG tunes through the Favorite channels when theuser presses FAV while watching TV.

Users can tune and browse channels. From any of the guides, a user cantune to another channel by highlighting a program title, pressing INFOor SELECT to display the INFO pop-up, and then selecting the “TUNE”button on the pop-up.

To tune while watching TV, the user presses CH↑ or CH↓ and the systemtunes to the next or previous channel in the customized channel order ordefault channel map.

Users can also “browse” through channels to see what is on otherchannels while keeping the TV tuned to the program they are stillwatching. By pressing the ↑ or ↓ arrow keys on a remote control whilewatching TV, the user can see the title, time, description, and durationof the program on the next or previous channel.

Each IPG includes a full menu system that allows the user to set up theIPG functions, such as screen display position, and user preferences. Anexample of an IPG screen function is the Adjust Display Position screenfunction. Another feature of each IPG is Internet access which can beset up from an IPG menu.

Each IPG includes a Parental Control feature that allows the user toblock TV viewing. For example, the user can lock entire channels; lockthe IPG entirely, so that no functions may be used; and limitInteractive Pay Per View (IPPV) purchasing.

Each IPG enables a user to purchase current and future IPPV programs.IPPV programs, descriptions, and buying information are displayed in theguides. Each IPG also enables network operators to display operatormessages.

The user can set up a parental control password and a purchase password.To use parental control, the user must first set up a parental password.The user does not have to set up a purchase password to make impulse PPVpurchases. If the user does set up a purchase password, the systemrequires the user to enter the password to complete the purchase.

Each IPG contains stored barkers that can be used when certain channelstatus criterions are met. A barker is a message displayed on the screenwhich can provide information to the user or indicate action(s) for theuser to take. The operator can also set up video barkers to be usedinstead of stored barkers.

Each IPG can display Caller ID and Message Waiting information in boththe TV state and when a guide is displayed. In addition, userpreferences and a Caller ID Log are available in a Main Menu.

IPG screens and pop-ups are displayed in the industry safe title area ofthe TV screen. Preferably, each IPG display uses a high resolutionpixel-based display.

The multiple IPG system is multi-source. Multiple MPEG streams aredelivered to multiple TV sets throughout a house, with each stream (or“source”) modulated to a different channel. In one embodiment, themultiple IPG system provides independent instances of the IPG, one foreach source. In a preferred embodiment, the system providesinterdependent IPGs, one for each source. In the latter embodiment, eachof the different IPGs share some common data stored in a common databasewith each other. Also, each IPG includes data unique to that specificIPG. Therefore, a first IPG being viewed by a first user can displaydata added or modified via a second IPG by a second user of the system.Furthermore, all the competing and conflicting requests for limitedresources, such as VCR scheduled recordings, are brought to the users'attention and displayed or prompted by the system.

For example, a comprehensive list of pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled timesand/or future purchases for all of the users can be displayed by anyuser on any TV. In addition, if a first user attempts to order a PPVprogram that has already been ordered by a second user, the systemprompts the first user with the information about the already placed (orscheduled to be placed) order. Furthermore, if a first user schedulesrecording of a first program and a second user attempts to schedulerecording of a second program that will be telecast at the same time,the system prompts the second user and display the recording schedulesstored by all the users.

Moreover, parental control blocking criteria by a user (with masterpassword) influences other users' viewing of the programs. For example,if a first user attempts to view a program that meets a blockingcriterion set by a second user (with master password), the program willbe blocked and the first user will be prevented from viewing theprogram.

The multiple IPGs support a hierarchy of multiple user passwords. Forexample, in a household, the parents may have the highest level ofpassword (a master password), the teenager may have a second levelpassword, and the younger children may have lower levels of passwords. Auser with a higher level password may override the changes made userswith lower level password. A user with a master password can overridethe changes made by all other users. A user with the master passwordsets the priorities for other passwords based on other user names and/oruser profiles. Each password is stored in a respective memory location.Upon entry of a password, the microprocessor determines the priority ofthe entered password and the privileges assigned to that password basedon the respective user profile or information associated with thepassword stored in the memory.

A set-top box permits multiple MPEG streams (sources) to besimultaneously delivered and distributed throughout a household (forsimplicity reasons, a three source set-top box is discussed, theinvention is easily extendable to several source set-top boxes). Thesestreams are each modulated to a different channel, so that any of themultiple streams may be viewed at a given location. Multiple independentIPGs, one for each source are provided. Each IPG has its ownuser-configurable data such as channel lineup, list of favoritechannels, and set of passwords. The IPGs share a common database and inmany instances, interact with each other.

IPGs can also be customized by and be particular to specific users. Aspecific user identifies him-/herself by entering a user name and theassociated password into an appropriate field in a displayed screen whena TV receiver is turned on. Once the user is identified, the respectiveIPG is displayed for the identified user. In the alternative, the IPGsare particular to each source, i.e., no matter which user is identified,a specific IPG is displayed depending on which TV set is turned on.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the components of an embodiment of theinvention provided in a single set-top box that feeds conventional TVreceivers or monitors 17, 18, and 19. The set-top box receives digitalTV signals and converts them into analog video and audio drive signals.The digital TV signals are arranged in packets according to anestablished standard format, such as ATSC. The components include amicroprocessor 10, a memory controller or direct memory access (DMA)device 7 coupled to the microprocessor 10, RAM 8 coupled to the DMAdevice 7 and the microprocessor 10, synchronization (synch) and timingcircuitry 6 coupled to all of the components, data depacketizer 2,decoder 3 coupled to the depacketizer 2, IPG data extractor 4 coupled tothe decoder 3 and the microprocessor, tuners 11-13 coupled to the IPGdata extractor 4, MPEG decoders 14-16 coupled to the tuners 11-13,display generator 9 coupled to the microprocessor and the DMA device,and TV receivers 17-19 coupled to the display generator 9.

The microprocessor 10 configures and coordinates the activities of allof the other components in the set-top box via two-way communicationpaths without participating in any data movement operations.Microprocessor 10 is programmed to operate in a multi-tasking mode, inwhich the video and audio drive signals, including the TV programsignals and the IPG signals, for monitors 17, 18, and 19 are generated.The microprocessor 10 accesses RAM 8 using DMA controller 7 as a proxyby providing address information and either providing data (in the caseof a write) or receiving data (in the case of a read).

Preferably, there is only one RAM, although this invention works withany number of RAMs. RAM 8 is accessed by four different components: themicroprocessor 10, the IPG data extractor 4, MPEG decoders 14-16, andthe display generator 9. The DMA is a multiplexing and arbitratingcircuit that facilitates the sharing of the RAM 8 by switching accessbetween the four components. The DMA may include buffer memory totemporarily store data input from out-of-turn components between accesscycles. The DMA 7 stores text and video data in the correct addresses inthe RAM 8 and then retrieves the appropriate data from a selectedaddress from the RAM 8 when needed.

As the digital data streams are received, they are depacketized by thedepacketizer 2 resulting in audio, video, and auxiliary (including theIPG data) data streams. Decoding, error detection, and error correctionfunctions are performed by the decoder 2. The IPG data is then extractedfrom the data stream by the extractor 4 and is stored in the RAM 8. Thedata stream is fed to the three tuners 11-13 and the output of eachtuner is decoded by the MPEG decoders 14-16. The decoded audio and videodata is then fed to the display generator 9 (or stored in the RAM 8) bythe DMA 7. The display generator 9 then outputs the video and audio datato the respective TV receiver 17-19. The timing circuitry 6 provides thetiming and synchronization signals for all the components.

The data for the multiple IPGs is stored in the system RAM 8 which iscoupled to the MPEG decoders 14-16 through the DMA controller 7.Preferably, common data to all IPGs is stored in a segment of the RAMthat is accessible by all the IPGs. Data specific to each IPG based on aparticular user or based on a particular TV set is stored in othersegments of the RAM 8 and is accessible by respective IPGs. Examples ofdata specific to an IPG are; guide customizations such as channelorders, channel set up, format of the guide, and background colors. RAM8 also functions to buffer the digital data associated with the audioand video data of a given channel for each tuner.

Microprocessor 10 operates to periodically update the multiple IPGsstored in the system RAM 8. IPGs are particular to specific users and/orparticular to specific TV set. When a user decides to display aparticular IPG, display generator 9 under the control of microprocessor10 retrieves the IPG common data and the IPG specific data from RAM 8through DMA controller 7. The display generator then outputs theparticular IPG to the respective TV receiver.

In an exemplary embodiment, display generator 9 includes the functionsof a VCHIP for each TV receiver. Accordingly, any TV program that meetsa blocking criterion is blocked from the respective TV display. Inanother exemplary embodiment there are preferably three VCHIPS coupledto the respective MPEG decoder, microprocessor, and the displaygenerator.

FIG. 1C shows a block diagram of a software architecture for the presentinvention. The IPG data is stored and organized in a common IPGframework 21. The IPG data is shared between the three IPG applications22-24. The common IPG framework 21 includes an IPG database manager 25that responds to the data requests from each of the IPG applications22-24. Each of the IPG applications 22-24 include a user interface (UI)for accepting data from a user and a graphics generator for displayingdata in a guide format. The IPG database manager 25 in the common IPGframework 21 keeps track of all the changes to the IPG data by eachuser. In summary, the IPG data for all three monitors are stored in oneplace, i.e., RAM 8, commands from all three remote control units (RCU's)5 a, 5 b, and 5 c are received and processed by one processor, i.e.,microprocessor 10, and the individual IPG images formed responsive tothe commands from all three RCU's are generated in one displaygenerator, i.e., display generator 9.

A scheduled events list includes an aggregate list for all individualrecordings and series recordings, future PPV purchases, and scheduledtunes. FIG. 31 shows an example of a scheduled events list. Theinformation included in the scheduled events list may be kept at thenetwork level or kept at the user level. The present invention includesa UI including the scheduled events list. The network provides the UIwith event IDs for any shows that are scheduled to be purchased, and theUI displays the titles for those IDs. The scheduled events list isshared by all the users. In one example, the programs are listed inchronological order by date and time. Current events, if there are any,are listed at the top, and then the next events scheduled to occur arelisted below them. From this screen, the users can do the following:

View the programs scheduled for purchasing;

Notice any conflicts with the programs scheduled for purchasing;

Get information for programs scheduled for purchasing; or

Cancel programs scheduled for purchasing.

Each user is provided with the same scheduled events list. If a userorders a PPV program, the guide displays the scheduled event in theguides and in the scheduled events lists for all three sources. If auser cancels a scheduled purchase, the purchase is no longer displayedin any of the guides or any of the scheduled events lists. However, ifthe purchase was scheduled by a different user, the canceling user musthave a higher priority password to be able to cancel the scheduledevent. This prevents a user from unknowingly purchasing the same programtwice, or from canceling one instance of a purchase and unknowinglyallowing another instance of the purchase to occur. In case of aconflict, the program in conflict is highlighted in this screen. Inaddition a new pop up (prompt) screen may appear notifying the userabout the conflict.

FIG. 32 shows an example of a prompt window for notifying a second userwho is requesting a PPV purchase that has already been scheduled. Inthis example, unknown to the second user, a first user had requested topurchase “Elizabeth” as a PPV program to be viewed at a first timeschedule. The system notifies the second user about the conflict andasks the second user if he/she wants to override the first user'sscheduled event. Only a user with higher password level than that of afirst user can override the first user's request for a conflictingresource. If the second user has a higher priority password, he/she canreschedule the telecast time of “Elizabeth.”

In general, a major advantage of the IPG in the multi-sourcearchitecture is in allowing users to use multiple (three as an example)instances of the IPG simultaneously. This includes, but is notrestricted to, the following:

1. Users can view three different channels simultaneously.

2. Users can have three separate “custom channels” lists (so that theparent's bedroom may have an entirely different list of channels,ordering of channels, and favorite channels than the children'sbedroom).

3. Users may have three separate groups of parentally-controlledchannels and passwords. This would mean that the parents can prohibitCinemax (for example) from being displayed on the TV in the children'sbedroom but may watch it in their own bedroom.

4. Users may have three different AutoTunes occurring at once withoutconflict. For example, the living room TV may tune itself to “Friends”while the children's TV tunes itself to “Barney” simultaneously. Thiswould be a conflict in a single-source environment.

The multiple IPGs use their common database to interact with each otherto solve any potential conflicts. The following are some examples inwhich the guides must interact with each other, in order to avoidunsolvable difficulties with the user interface:

1. Because Pay-Per-View ordering is handled at the network end, the IPGmaintains no independent knowledge of the circumstances of PPVpurchases, and displays the results of an aggregate list of purchasesprovided by the network. If a user orders a PPV program for one source,the guide displays the scheduled event in the guides and in a scheduledEvents List for all three sources. If a user cancels a scheduledpurchase, the purchase is no longer displayed in any of the guides orany of the Scheduled Events Lists. This prevents a user from unknowinglypurchasing the same program twice, or from canceling one instance of apurchase and unknowingly allowing another to occur.

2. If the user forgets his or her password and calls the serviceprovider to reset the password, the passwords for all three sources willbe reset and must be reentered individually. This prevents a user frommaking multiple phone calls to the service provider to reset thepasswords on each source.

3. When the user displays a Caller ID Log (see below), the IPG will showan aggregate list. If two users have the Caller ID Log displayed ondifferent sources and one user deletes a message, the deletion will notoccur on the log of the other source until that user closes the log.

Parental Control Features

All of the multiple IPGs are capable of supporting the features of VCHIPPlus+ described in a co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/221,615(“VCHIP PLUS; PARENTAL CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD”), filed Dec. 28,1998, the disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference, asif fully stated here, for all purposes.

VChip Plus+ in guide mode uses two data sources in combination todetermine whether a show should be blocked: data downloaded and storedin the guide (channel lineups, show schedules, show ratings), and ratingdata transmitted over the VBI. Ordinary V-Chip devices use the datatransmitted over the VBI to determine whether or not to block a show byrating. These ratings are sent a minimum of every 15 seconds. Thus, ashow that a parent may wish blocked, may be seen for up to 15 secondsbefore the blocking takes effect. VCHIP Plus+ in guide mode uses showrating data already stored for each of the IPGs to determine whether ashow should be blocked as soon as it begins, and use the VBI data toconfirm if the show was properly blocked. If it was blocked in error,then the block is removed. In the event the respective guide does nothave rating data stored on a given show, the show will be accessible,until the VBI data is obtained and a blocking decision is made.

Shows of participating networks except news and sports programming arerated with either a TV Parental guideline rating or an MPAA rating (formovies that have not been modified for TV). However, VCHIP Plus+provides the ability for the user to block unrated programming. Theintent is to give parents control over whether they wish their childrento watch the potentially objectionable content of some news and sportsprograms.

Each IPG requests that the user provide certain profile information.Some of the information provided by the user are specific to the set-topbox and the same for all the IPG such as: the user's zip code; TV,cable, and satellite services to which the user subscribes; the lengthof said subscriptions. Other information is specific to each user oreach TV set such as the type of TV; the age of the TV; the user's topfavorite channels; the user's favorite types of programs; and the timesduring which the user is most likely to watch TV. If the user declinesto provide this information, each IPG attempts to “learn” theinformation as described in a co-pending patent application Ser. No.09/120,488 (“SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING AND RECORDING CONTROLINTERFACE WITH TELEVISION PROGRAMS, VIDEO, ADVERTISING INFORMATION ANDPROGRAM SCHEDULING INFORMATION”), filed Jul. 21, 1998, the disclosuresof which is incorporated herein by reference, as if fully stated here,for all purposes.

When the TV is powered on, the display depends upon whetherAuto-Guide-On is activated, the entry show has been blocked, or the TVremote or front panel was used to turn on the TV. If Auto-Guide-On isactivated, the respective IPG appears when a TV is turned on. If aMaster Password has been set, the user has access to shows, features andscreens provided by the User Profile. In one embodiment, all shows,channels, times, etc. that are blocked are so marked within therespective IPGs. In an alternative embodiment, the blocked shows do notappear in the respective IPGs. The user has access to all unrestrictedshows and features and screens of the guide without the need to enter apassword. Upon attempting to access a restricted show (by pressing theOK or Guide key), feature (recording via action buttons, any enabledbuttons on the remote—likely the record button—and via the VCRPlus+ key)or screen (scrolling into or pressing OK from menu bar), a passworddialog box appears on the screen. If the user correctly inputs theMaster Password, the user obtains access to all shows, areas of therespective guide and features. If the user does not input the MasterPassword, that user maintains access as defined by the User Profile. Alluser profiles can be modified by a user with a master password.

If Auto-Guide-On is not activated, the respective IPG does not appearwhen the TV is turned. If a Master Password has been set, the user hasaccess to shows, features and screens provided by the User Profile. Ifthe entry show has not been blocked, the show video appears on screen.If the entry show has been blocked, a password dialog box appears on thescreen. Again, if the users correctly input the Master Password, theyobtain access to all shows, areas of the guide and features. If theusers do not input the Master Password, they maintain access as definedby the User Profile.

FIG. 33 shows an example of a UI in each IPG for the VCHIP Plus+functions. The VCHIP Plus+ Menu screen provides access to all the VCHIPPlus+ screens. These screens can only be accessed in Master PasswordMode. The user scrolls down off the menu bar to highlight the tile ofthe desired feature. FIG. 34 shows the selection of TV Ratings. The userpresses the OK/Select key to enter the screens related to thehighlighted VCHIP Plus+ feature. Any user attempting to access thesescreens when not in Master Password mode is prompted to enter the MasterPassword. If not in Master Mode, preferably these menu tiles are darkand unaccessible. The VCHIP Plus+ screens are accessed from the Menubar; the user highlights the “VCHIP Plus+ ” button on the menu bar, andthen scrolls down to select from the menu of VCHIP Plus+ functions.Throughout the VCHIP Plus+ screens, an (blue) action button is used tounblock and a different (green) action button is used to block shows,times. channels, etc. When the highlighted tile is currently unblocked,the blue action button label is blank and the green action button islabeled “Block.” When the highlighted tile is blocked, the blue actionbutton is labeled “Unblock” and the green action button label is blank,except if the highlighted tile is a show title. If a blocked show titletile is highlighted, the green action button is labeled “Schedule,”providing access to the Schedule screen to modify the blocking frequencyfrom the default of once to daily or weekly.

Similar to the watch and record features, a blocked show may be set tobe blocked once, daily or weekly. This is accomplished by placing anyindividual show (this does not apply to all shows set to be blocked bychannel, time or rating) that is set to be blocked into the Schedulequeue. These blocked shows are mixed in with the shows set to record orwatch in chronological order. By entering the Schedule, either bypressing the green action button while highlighting a blocked show inthe VCHIP Plus+ or the GUIDE Plus+ screens or from the Schedule buttonon the menu bar, the user may modify the frequency of the block in thesame way he/she may do so for shows set to record or watch, by pressingan action button labeled “Change.” This cycles through the frequencychoices. Modifying the frequency can only be done while the IPG is inMaster Mode.

Scheduled events (shows scheduled to record, watch or blocked) for eachIPG can be stored in a single non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (notshown) within the single set-top box. Thus, if a power outage occurs,the Scheduled events are saved.

Master Password

In one embodiment of the present invention, a 4 digit numeric MasterPassword scheme is used to enable the establishment of a User Profileand provide unlimited (unprotected) access to the guide screens andshows once a Master Password is established. Only one Master Passwordcan be established. It is established either during initial setup orlater by entering the Password screen from the guide menu (see FIG. 33)or the TV mode. Once a Master Password is established, the MasterPassword must be entered to execute blocking or unblocking. Preferably,the Master Password need also be entered to access the Setup, Editor,VCHIP Plus+ screens, and resolve any conflicts between multiple IPGs.Once entered, the TV is in Master Password (unprotected) mode until theTV is turned off, the user exits VCHIP Plus+ mode, or a certain timedelay, which starts from the time when the user correctly enters thepassword, has expired.

A user in the master mode can also set password priorities for otherusers. For example, a second user may have a password with higherpriority than a third user. The second user with a higher prioritypassword than the third user may resolve some of the conflicts with thethird user in the second user favor and override some of the optionscapabilities of the third user.

A UI allows the users (parents) to pick their own passwords, and todisable the lockout when the passwords are lost. The functions of thisUI include, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Fixed Overriding Password—This is hardwired in the equipment, andcan always be used in case the user-defined password is lost.

(2) Repeating entry X times establishes new password—If the password islost, the new password can be made by repeatedly entering the samepassword X number of times, and at the end of the process informing theuser that the new password has been established.

(3) Power interruption after certain length of time allows new passwordto be entered—This allows the parent to “pull the plug” of the equipmentand regain control after the password has been lost.

(4) Password review/re-entry through special service mode—By restrictingthat only the parents can access the special service mode, the passwordcan be viewed safely in this way.

The above approaches of password handling can be further enhanced byrecording the last time that the password was used or changed.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart of the master password operation. Obviously notall operations would require a password. As shown in block 391, thefollowing operations have password protection: changing the password,changing the V-Chip ratings, deleting a “blocked” program or deleting a“blocked” channel, changing the “Babysitter” function, unblocking aprogram or a channel within the “Babysitter” function, changing theclock (this is because a different clock causes VCHIP Plus+ to block adifferent program), and changing the channel map (this is because adifferent channel map causes VCHIP Plus+ to block a different channel).

A Master password user can establish specific viewing (blocking)parameters for each User Profile, establish specific feature use limits(disable Recording or Watch) for each User Profile, modify the Masterpassword, or enter all screens for all IPGs and view, record or scheduleto watch all shows. But, it is not necessary to input the MasterPassword to access unrestricted shows, channels, time slots, featuresand guide screens. Whenever access to a blocked show (tuning to it in TVmode or pressing OK or Guide keys from the Guide) or a restricted screen(scrolling into or pressing OK from menu bar) or feature (recording viaaction buttons, any enabled buttons on the remote—likely the recordbutton—and via the VCRPlus+ key) of the guide is attempted, a dialog boxappears on screen requesting the password.

If the password is correctly input, access is granted. If the passwordis incorrectly input, an error screen is displayed. Once the password iscorrectly input, access to all shows and areas of the guide is enableduntil the TV is turned off, the user exits VCHIP Plus+ mode, or acertain time delay, which starts from the time when the user correctlyeaters the password, has expired. Additionally, once the password iscorrectly entered, it can be changed by the user as shown in block 396.However, repeating the entry of a consistently incorrect password for acertain number of times can establish a new password. The new passwordis established by repeatedly entering the same incorrect password acertain number of times, and at the end of the process confirming thenewly established password (block 395). The date and time of the lasttime that the password was used is recorded and, as shown in block 397,that date and time for the previous log in is then displayed.

Once a Master Password is created, restrictions on access to certainIPGs or certain IPG screens is automatically established asmodifications to these IPG or IPG screens may defeat blockingeffectiveness. Only the Master may establish blocks for the rest of theusers or all the IPGs. Access-blocking may be established on: individualIPGs, individual users, individual TV sets, individual shows; channels;themes (entire themes such as Movies, Sports, Children's or sub-themessuch as Adventure, Drama, Baseball, Basketball, etc.); TV Parentalguideline or MPAA rating (including un-rated shows); time slot or day;and/or access to the Recording and Watch features.

For example, to block television programs based on individual IPGS, auser with the master password may block all “R” and “PG-13” ratings fora first IPG corresponding to a first TV receiver and block only “R”ratings for a second IPG corresponding to a second TV receiver.Therefore, regardless of what user uses the respective IPG, the blockedprograms will not be enabled for viewing. To block television programsbased on individual users, a user with the master password may blockcertain programs for a first user and block different programs for asecond user. Thus, regardless of what TV receiver the first and secondusers use, they will be prevented from viewing the blocked programsrespectively. Furthermore, a user with a master password can customizeor change the customization of other IPGs or user profiles.

The user controls the multiple IPG system from a remote control. Theremote control has special keys, such as GUIDE and INFO, that displayIPG screens and pop-ups and that perform IPG functions.

Grid Guide

The Grid Guide displays a grid of program information for given times.The Channel Guide displays a grid of program information for givenchannels. The Theme Guide displays a column of program information for acategory and subcategory. The Guides can display multiple days ofinformation.

Channel Guide

FIG. 2 shows a Channel Guide. The Channel Guide displays programinformation in chronological order for one channel at a time. TheChannel Guide displays information for the channel that was highlightedin the Grid Guide. To see program lineups for the other channels, theuser presses CH↑,CH↓, ←, or →.

The Channel Guide features a “carousel” 102 at the top which shows thegraphical icon for the channel being displayed, and text icons for theadjoining channels in the user's customized lineup. Pressing RIGHT orLEFT would cause the carousel to rotate to the adjoining channel.

The operator may not wish to include the Channel Guide in the featureset of the IPG. The Channel Guide is an optional feature. Depending onthe amount of memory available and the specification of the operator,the number of days displayed in the guide and the amount of programdescriptions can vary.

Channel Icons

FIG. 3 shows the Grid Guide format and illustrates common components ofthe guides. Guides in general include a listing area 104 in the middlein which program information is displayed, a title area 106 above thelisting area, and menu tabs 108 at the top, which may or may not beaccessible using the navigation keys (depending on the type of guidebeing displayed). The Grid Guide in particular includes these elements,with a Network Operator name displayed in the title area, and additionalelements such as the channel banner at the bottom and the interactivepromotions 110 at the lefthand side. The Network Operator may be aMulti-System Operator (MSO). Any cable company that owns more than onefranchise is an MSO. For example, Cox Cable has multiple franchises,such as Cox/San Diego, Cox/Orange County, Cox/Phoenix, etc.

The picture-in-Picture (PIP) is at the upper left-hand corner in thosedevices that support PIP. In devices that do not support PIP, this areacan be used to display further graphical branding 112, as shown in FIG.4.

The channel banner in the Grid Guide is displayed at the bottom of thescreen. It shows the current time and channel information for thecurrently-tuned channel. Channel banners in general display informationfor the currently-tuned channel; the only exception is the channelbanner that displays inside the browsing pop-up, which contains channelinformation for the program in the pop-up.

The channel banner is comprised of channel information, channel number,and current time. In the preferred embodiment, the channel informationcontains a string of up to four characters giving the call letters andaffiliation of channels. In the preferred embodiment, the channel numbercontains a string of up to three characters that identifies the channelnumber to which the IPG device is tuned. In the preferred embodiment,the current time shows the current time, displaying up to two numericcharacters for the hour, followed by a colon, followed by two morenumeric characters for the minute, followed by either an AM for a PM.All references to time use a 12-hour clock.

FIG. 4 shows 11 channel icons listed on the screen. Channel icons 114are the boxes that contain the channel number or an abbreviation of thechannel name. Channel icons display in the left column of the listingarea of the Grid Guide and in the listing area of the Change ChannelOrder, Select Channels, Favorite Channels, and Lock by Channels screens.Channel icons are up to seven characters wide and contain a channelnumber or name from one to four characters and a tune channel number. Tothe right of the channel icons are the programs available for thosechannels for the current time period. The number of half-hours andchannels that can be displayed in the Grid Guide can be configured,depending on the size of the font.

In one embodiment, if the channel has a Favorite designation, the GridGuide shows a yellow star 116 to the left of the channel icon. If thechannel is a locked channel, the Grid Guide shows a lock symbol 117 nextto the channel icon. If a channel is both locked and a Favorite, thelock icon overlays the Favorite icon 118, but both are visible.

The cursor is the yellow highlight 120 occupying a cell of the GridGuide, a row in the Theme Guide, a field in the setup screens, etc. Bymoving the cursor, the user moves from program to program in the guides.In addition, the user moves the cursor to make selections, such ascategory and subcategory. The user moves the cursor with the remotecontrol navigation keys: ↑, ↓, ←, →, DAY ←, DAY →, CHAN ↑, CHAN ↓, PAGE↑, and PAGE ↓.

When the cursor is on a channel or channel icon, a larger icon 122 willoverlay the default icon and a little of the icons above and below it.In the preferred embodiment, the larger icon can display the channellogo (If the graphical logo is in memory), or the same information inthe channel icon, but in a larger font.

The yellow star symbol indicates channels selected as Favorite. The darkgray lock symbol indicates channels under parental control. The redunlock symbol indicates channels that are unlocked. The green purchasesymbol indicates programs that have been purchased.

Using the Guide

From any guide, users can do the following: View the programinformation, request more information for a program title or channel(display Information pop-up), tune to a channel, purchase an IPPVprogram, unlock or relock the IPG, and select a channel as a Favorite.

While viewing any of the guides, the user can return to the tunedchannel, tune to another channel, or switch to another guide. To close aguide and return to the currently tuned channel, the user presses EXIT.To tune to a program on another channel and close the guide, the userplaces the cursor on the desired program/channel and presses SELECT.This brings up the Info pop-up, on which the user can move the cursor tothe “TUNE” button. The user presses SELECT again, and the system tunesthe IPG device to the new channel for the program and displays a GrazingTitle pop-up.

To tune directly to another channel, the user presses numbers on theremote control number pad to display the number pad pop-up. When thepop-up times out (in two seconds) or the user presses SELECT, the IPGcloses the guide and tunes to the new channel. To close the currentguide and go to another guide or screen, the user presses theappropriate remote control key. For example, the user can press GUIDEwhile in the Theme Guide to see the Grid Guide.

In most cases, when the user changes from one guide to another, thecursor remembers the time and channel it was on so that it can go to thesame place in the new guide; therefore, cursor time remains the same.However, when the user switches from the Grid Guide to the Theme Guide,the cursor goes to the first show that fits into the category the userselected. The start time of this show becomes cursor time.

If the user does not press a remote control key for two minutes, theguides time out automatically.

To display the Grid Guide while viewing TV or while viewing any IPGscreen other than the Grid Guide, the user presses GUIDE. If the user isalready displaying the Grid Guide and presses GUIDE, nothing happens.When the user presses GUIDE while viewing TV, the IPG displays thesystem page which contains the currently tuned channel and places thecursor on the current time and currently tuned channel 124, as shown inFIG. 5. If the user is watching a channel not in the IPG channel lineup,the cursor goes to the first channel in the IPG channel lineup. The usercan set up a customized channel order to be used by the IPG.

The cursor can be on any page of the guide and on any row of the page.The channel that is currently tuned and the IPG channel lineup determinethe location of the cursor. The location of the cursor depends on whichchannel the TV is currently tuned. For example, if the user tunes the TVto channel two before pressing GUIDE, the cursor may be at the top ofthe first page of the Grid guide. If the user tunes the TV to channel36, the cursor may be in the middle of the last page of the Grid Guide.

If the user has a preferred order for switching channels and viewing theprogram information in the guides, the IPG can be configured to allowthe user to reorder the TV channels for use with IPG. The new customizedorder takes precedence over the default order and determines on whichpage the cursor appears.

The left corner of the title banner displays the PIP 126, which showsthe currently tuned channel, so that the user can use the guide during acommercial break and see when the commercial has ended. In devices thatdo not support a PIP, the area can be used to display a graphical logo.

Partial Rows and Icons

The program times 128 for the guide are in the title banner below thebranding area. A few pixels of visible rows of the Grid Guide appear atthe right-hand edge of the listing area to indicate that the user canmove the guide ahead additional days. If the user has moved the guideinto the future, a few pixels of visible rows of the Grid Guide appearon the left edge of the listing area to indicate that the user cannavigate the guide back to current time. At the top and bottom of thelisting area, a few pixels of visible rows appear to indicate to theuser that scrolling up or down past the top or bottom row will displayinformation for a different page.

In an embodiment of the invention, an icon is displayed next to items ina menu screen list. In addition, a partial icon is displayed next to thefirst item on a screen display list to indicate that the list continuesbeyond the screen display and that there is an item which comes beforethe first item on the screen display. A partial icon is displayed nextto the last item on a screen display list to indicate that the listcontinues beyond the screen display and that there is an item whichcomes after the last item on the screen display. For a list that isarranged on the screen from top to bottom, a partial icon displayed nextto the first item on the screen display indicates that the listcontinues beyond the upper portion of the screen display and a partialicon displayed next to the last item on a screen display list indicatesthat the list continues beyond the lower portion of the screen display.In another embodiment of the invention, the icon may be user-defined. Insuch an embodiment, the user can invoke a palette of symbols from whichthe user can choose a symbol to designate as the icon for screen displaylist items. The user may also create an icon using drawing software anddesignate the drawn icon as the icon for the screen display list item.Also, an icon for a screen display item may be designated from a file.The preferred embodiment of the invention includes displaying circles orbullets next to items in a menu screen list. In addition, a partialcircle or bullet is displayed next to the first or last item on a screendisplay list to indicate that the list continues beyond the screendisplay.

The Grid Guide has a screen time associated with it; screen time is notassociated with the Theme Guide. When the user first comes to the GridGuide, screen time is the time of the left-most column in the listingarea.

FIG. 6 shows when the beginning of a show appears to extend beyond theleft edge of the guide. A show having a vertical bar at its left-handside signals to the user that the show began at the time displayed.However, if the beginning of a show appears to extend beyond the leftedge of the guide, this signals to the user that this program actuallybegan at an earlier time slot than is currently displayed on the screen.

Show titles on a non-selected channel are written in white, to beclearly visible against dark background colors. Selected show titles arewritten in black, to be clearly visible against the cursor.

The Grid Guide is colored by the theme. The Grid Guide displaysdifferent colors for several types of programming, based on themeattributes. In an exemplary embodiment, the default color scheme usespurple, green, and blue for show titles. The show titles on the GridGuide can be displayed in three theme colors:

Movies are displayed on a purple background; sports are displayed on agreen background; and all other shows are displayed on a bluebackground. Interactive promotions may be any color in the IPG paletteexcept bright yellow, which is reserved for the cursor.

A show title includes a moving Time Column. The moving Time Columngraphically represents how much of the show is over. It is a column,because the shading is vertical. Its height is constant and its widthexpands from left to right. When the user displays a Grid Guide thatincludes the current half-hour, any portion of the show title thatprecedes the current minute is displayed in a darker variant of itsTheme Color. For example, if the current time is 8:17 pm and the user isdisplaying a system page with a screen time of 8:00 pm, the moving TimeColumn will shade roughly half of the first half-hour of show titles, sothat the background color for movies will be a darker red up until thecurrent time, the background color for sports a darker green, and thebackground color for all other shows a darker blue. When the cursor ison a show that begins before current time, that portion of the cursor tothe left of current time will also be shaded a darker shade of yellow.

Promotions

The IPG includes interactive promotions. The lefthand side of thedisplay may have a plurality of interactive promotions. The interactivepromotions may change over time. In an exemplary embodiment, thepromotional area at the left-hand side of the screen, beneath the PIP,displays two interactive promotions, which can feature a combination oftext and bit mapped content. When the cursor is on the earliest possiblecolumn of show titles and the user presses ←, the cursor 130 will moveonto one of the two interactive promotions, as shown in FIG. 7. The usercan move between the two promotions by pressing ↑ or ↓,. If the userpresses ↑ while the cursor is on the upper promotion or ↓ while thecursor is on the lower promotion, the cursor will move to the “GridGuide” menu tab. If the user presses → while the cursor is on either ofthe promotions, the cursor will move back to the show title from whichthe user moved to the promotions. Then, if the user presses ← again, thecursor will move to whichever of the two promotions the user had lastselected.

In an exemplary embodiment, a user can provide input in response to theinteractive promotion and cause an action. In a preferred embodiment, ifthe user presses SELECT while the cursor is on one of the promotions, aninteractive billboard 132 will be displayed for the promotion, as shownin FIG. 8. The interactive billboard includes text and color informationthat is sent to the IPG as part of the database. The interactivebillboard accompanies the interactive promotion and is a feature of thepromotion. The promotion is very small and only allows the advertiser todisplay a small amount of text; the billboard can be multiple pages oftext. In essence, to analogize to books, the promotion is the cover ofthe book and the billboard is the complete book.

The interactive billboard also includes buttons, which when selectedcause an action. In an exemplary embodiment, there will be three buttonsat the bottom of the billboard: “BACK,” “AUTOTUNE,” and “RECORD.” SELECTis a key on the remote control. Pressing the SELECT key while a cursoris on one of the three buttons effects the action of that button. Thephrase “Selecting ‘AUTOTUNE’ . . . ” is to be read as a compression of“Highlighting ‘AUTOTUNE’ and pressing SELECT.” Remote control keys andon-screen buttons are differentiated by using quotation marks around thelatter.

Pressing BACK on the remote control will redisplay the prior screen.Selecting “AUTOTUNE” will tune to the channel of the program indicatedin the promotion. Selecting “RECORD” will setup the program indicated inthe promotion for recording. Selecting “BACK” will remove the billboardfrom the screen and return the cursor to the interactive promotion.

The interactive promotions may be configured to be different ondifferent pages of the guide, and promotions in the PPV Guide may bedifferent from those displayed in the Grid Guide. The promotions on anygiven page may also be combined into a single, rectangular promotion.

Theme Guide

The Theme Guide enables users to view a list of programs for aparticular category and subcategory. In one embodiment of the invention,there are three Theme screens: Themes, Theme Subcategories, and ThemeGuide. The Themes screen displays a list of categories from which theuser can select one. The Theme Subcategories screen displays a list ofsubcategories for the selected category. The user can select one forviewing program information. The Theme Guide screen displays programsfor a category and subcategory.

The user selects a category on the Themes screen and then selects asubcategory on the Theme Subcategories screen. The system then displaysthe programs that fit the subcategory on the Theme Guide screen.

In one embodiment of the invention, the Themes screen 134 can display upto 12 theme categories per page from which the user can select one, asshown in FIG. 9. The operator can choose theme categories andsubcategories at the headend PC.

The user displays the IPG Themes screen in one of two ways: (1) bypressing either GUIDE or MENU and then moving the cursor up to the menutabs, scrolling to the “Themes” tab 136, and then pressing SELECT; and(2) by pressing MENU, scrolling down to the “Theme Search” option, andpressing SELECT.

The menu tabs at the top of the screen are displayed at the top of theThemes screen. The title banner 106 at the top of the screen says ThemeSearch. In one embodiment of the invention, the listing area in themiddle of the screen contains up to 12 categories listed in a columndown the screen. When the user first displays the Themes screen, thecursor defaults to the first category. If the user returns to the Themesscreen from Theme Subcategories screen, the cursor goes to the lastselected category.

The Theme subcategories 138 that pertain to the selected Theme aredisplayed on the right of the screen. As the user moves the cursor fromcategory to category, the subcategories at the right change, so that theuser can anticipate what will happen if the Theme is selected. If thereare more subcategories than can fit on the page, the word “more . . . ”is displayed at the bottom of the column, so that the user looking for aparticular subcategory isn't mislead into thinking that all thesubcategories are being displayed.

FIG. 10 shows the Theme Guide with multiple episodes 140. In FIG. 10,the theme is movies. The highlighted show is “Amistad.” If thehighlighted show has multiple episodes, they will be displayed on theright side of the Theme Guide.

Pressing ↓ moves the cursor down one category. If the user is already atthe bottom of the category list and presses ↓, the cursor doesn'trespond if there is only one page of categories. If there are morepages, then if the cursor is on the bottom entry of the page and theuser presses ↓, the IPG displays the next page of categories, and thecursor goes to the first entry of the next page; if the user is alreadyat the bottom of the list and presses ↓, the system displays the BOTTOMmessage at the bottom of the list.

Pressing ↑ moves the cursor up one category. If the user is already atthe top of the list and presses ↑, the cursor moves to the “Themes” menutab. If there are more pages, then if the cursor is on the top entry ofthe page and the user presses ↑, the IPG displays the previous page ofcategories, and the cursor goes to the last entry of the previous page;if the user is already at the top of the list and presses ↑, the cursormoves to the “Themes” menu tab.

In one embodiment of the invention, there can be up to 12 categories onone page. If it happens that there are more theme categories available,the user can press PAGE ↓ and PAGE ↑ to navigate the Themes pages.

To select a Theme category, the user moves the cursor with the cursornavigation keys to a category and then presses SELECT. Once the userselects a category, the system remembers it until the user selects a newcategory or until the user leaves Themes. If there are subcategories forthe category, the system displays them on the Theme Subcategories screen142 as shown in FIG. 11.

The Theme Subcategories screen displays subcategories 144 from which theuser can select. Some categories have only a few subcategories, andothers have multiple pages of subcategories. If there are nosubcategories associated with the selected Theme, the system does notdisplay the Theme Subcategories screen. Instead. the IPG displays theTheme Guide for the category when the user selects a theme. PressingSELECT on the Themes screen displays the Theme Subcategories screen witha list of associated subcategories.

The title banner 106 at the top of the screen contains the user'sselected category. The listing area in the middle of the screen showsthe subcategories for the category. In one embodiment of the invention,the Theme Subcategories screen can display up to 11 categories on onepage. Typically there are not more than 11 subcategories for eachcategory. When the user first displays this screen, the cursor defaultsto the first subcategory; if the user returns to this screen from theTheme Guide, the cursor displays on the last selected subcategory. Ifthere are more than 11 subcategories, a small amount of a twelfth row isdisplayed at the bottom of the listing area, as a cue to the user thatthere is more information on the next page. If there are 11 or fewersubcategories, this area is grayed out, as a cue to the user that all ofthe available information is already displayed.

The user navigates the Theme Subcategories screen similarly to theThemes screen. Pressing ↓, moves the cursor down one subcategory. If theuser is already at the bottom of the subcategory list and presses ↓, thecursor doesn't respond if there is only one page of subcategories. Ifthere are more pages. then if the cursor is on the bottom entry of thepage and the user presses ↓, the IPG displays the next page ofsubcategories, and the cursor goes to the first entry of the next page.If the user is already at the bottom of a multiple-page list and presses↓, the system displays the BOTTOM message at the bottom of the list.Pressing ↑ moves the cursor up one subcategory. If the user is alreadyat the top of the list and presses ↑, the cursor doesn't respond ifthere is only one page of subcategories. If there are more pages, thenif the cursor is on the top entry of the page and the user presses ↑,the IPG displays the previous page of subcategories, and the cursor goesto the last entry of the previous page: if the user is already at thetop of a multiple-page list and presses ↑, the system displays the TOPmessage at the top of the list.

In one embodiment of the invention, there are 11 subcategories on onepage. If it happens that there are more theme subcategories, the usercan press PAGE↓ and PAGE↑ to navigate the Theme Subcategories pages.

To select a subcategory, the user moves the cursor with the cursornavigation keys to a subcategory and presses SELECT. Once the userselects a subcategory, the cursor remembers the subcategory until theuser selects a new category (on the Themes screen) or until the userleaves the Themes screens. The system searches the database for all thecurrent and future programs that fit in the subcategory; if there aremore programs than fit in the buffer, the system holds as many as it canand then enables the user to continue the search on the Theme Guidescreen. If there are no programs for the subcategory, the Theme Guide isdisplayed with a single line, with “(no title)” displayed. The user canpress SELECT or EXIT to return to the Themes Subcategories screen. Ifthe system finds programs, it displays them on the Theme Guide screen.

The Theme Guide displays all the programs that fit a particularsubcategory. A Theme Guide may have multiple pages of program listings.In one embodiment of the invention, the Theme Guide can display betweenone and seven days of program information depending on the amount ofmemory available and the specifications of the operator. The programlistings can be sorted by time, alphabetically by title, and by channel.

Pressing SELECT on the Theme Subcategories screen displays the ThemeGuide screen with the programs that fit the subcategory, as shown inFIG. 12. The cursor displays on the Theme Guide screen once the searchis complete. The Theme Guide displays the current and future programsthat fit the subcategory. The cursor defaults to the first program inthe Theme Guide. If more than one program starts at the same time, thesystem displays the programs in the user's customized channel order.

The title banner displays the selected subcategory. Below the titlebanner is the SORT BY row 146 that enables the user to sort programlistings by time, alphabetically by title, and by channel. The listingarea in the middle of the screen lists the programs that fit thesubcategory. For each program, the system displays the followinginformation:

If the listings are sorted by time, the title, start time, and start dayare displayed.

If the listings are sorted by title, only the title is displayed.

If the listings are sorted by channel, the title, channel number, andchannel name (preferably 4 characters, but it could be more or lesscharacters) are displayed.

At the right of the screen, the description 148 for the selected titleis displayed. At the top of the description, the channel name 150 andchannel number 152 are displayed on one line, and the start day and timeare displayed on the next line. Beneath these, the description isdisplayed. If the description is too long to be fully displayed, as muchof the description as possible is displayed, followed by the “more . . .” tag.

If the cursor is on the message, “Press SELECT for more titles,” thedescription at the right displays information for the last program entrythe cursor was on in the Theme Guide. If there are no titles availablefor the user's selected subcategory, the system displays the message (notitle), as shown in FIG. 13. The user can then press EXIT to return tothe subcategory screen.

If the Theme Guide is sorted by time or channel, multiple entries of thesame title are each given their own line in the Theme Guide. If theTheme Guide is sorted by title, however, multiple entries of the sametitle are “compressed” onto one line of the Theme Guide, and thedescription at the right shows how many episodes' are available anddisplays as many of them as possible. This is done to avoid havingmultiple pages of “News,” for example, slowing the user down. FIG. 10shows how 12 episodes of Amistad have been “compressed” onto one line ofthe theme guide on the left, and the description on the right showsprogram information for each of the Amistad episodes. If the userpresses SELECT, a sub-screen 154 is shown with information for eachepisode, as shown in FIG. 14. The user can then press EXIT to return tothe Theme Guide.

The user navigates the Theme Guide screen similarly to the other Themescreens. Pressing ↓ moves the cursor down one program. If the cursor ison the bottom entry of the page and the user presses ↓, the IPG displaysthe next page of Theme entries, and the cursor goes to the first entryof the next page. If the user is already at the bottom of the list andpresses ↓, the system displays the BOTTOM message at the bottom of thelist.

Pressing ↑ moves the cursor up one program. If the cursor is on the topentry of the page and the user presses ↑, the IPG displays the previouspage of Theme entries, and the cursor goes to the bottom entry of theprevious page. If the user is already at the top of the list and presses↑, the system displays the TOP message at the top of the list.

In one embodiment of the invention, pressing PAGE↓ displays ten programsfollowing the currently displayed ten programs. The cursor stays on thesame row of the list. If the user is already at the bottom of the listand presses PAGE↓, the system displays the BOTTOM message at the bottomof the list.

Pressing PAGE↑ displays the previous programs. The cursor stays on thesame row of the list. If the user is already at the top of the list andpresses PAGE↑, the system displays the TOP message at the top of thelist.

If the user is displaying the Theme Guide sorted by time, pressing DAY →starts the search again for 24 hours beyond cursor time. If the userpresses DAY → on the seventh day from the current day and the systemdoes not have any more listings of programs for the subcategory, thesystem displays the message no title and returns the user to thesubcategories screen. Pressing DAY ← starts the search again for 24hours before cursor time. If the user is displaying the Theme Guidesorted by channel or by title, pressing DAY → or DAY ← causes the ThemeDay Warning 156 to be displayed, as shown in FIG. 15.

While navigating the Theme Guide, the user may get to a screen that hasthe message Press SELECT for more titles 158 in the last row on thatscreen, as shown in FIG. 16. This message tells the user that the systemcould not fit all the programs for the subcategory in the buffer andthat the user can continue the search. To continue the search and to seemore programs for the subcategory, the user presses SELECT with thecursor on the row that says Press SELECT for more titles. The systemfinishes searching the database and displays the next buffer of programsor the rest of the programs for the subcategory. If the cursor is onpress SELECT for more titles and the user presses ↓ or

PAGE ↓, the system displays the BOTTOM message over the Press SELECT formore titles message.

To sort the program listings by a different option, the user presses the← or → and the sort indicator moves to the next option on the sort row.The system waits in case the user is continuing to move the sortindicator to the next option, and then begins sorting the list. The IPGdisplays the “Sorting . . . ” pop-up until the sort is complete.

Main Menu

The IPG includes a complete menu system. FIG. 17 shows the complete menusystem tree 160. The Main Menu is shown in FIG. 18. The Main Menu 162enables the user to select options for setting up the IPG and the IPGdevice. In addition, all major IPG features except the Grid Guide havean entry in the Main Menu. The menu tabs are visible at the very top ofthe screen. The title banner at the top contains the title Main Menu. Inone embodiment of the invention, the listing area shows ten lines perpage and includes all the features that have a top-level menu entry.These features include Pay Per View, Movies, Sports, Children's Shows,Theme Search, Telephone Services, About [MSO Name] (this line willreflect the MSO's name in the product), Scheduled Events List, ParentalControl, Set Display Controls, Set Up the Channels, Set Up the Box, andAbout the IPG creator.

In one embodiment of the invention, the Main Menu is opened is fewdifferent ways. For example, Pressing MENU on the remote control opensthe Main Menu; or Pressing GUIDE on the remote control, causing the GridGuide to be displayed, and then moving the cursor up to the menu tabs atthe top of the screen, moving the cursor over to the “Menu” tab, andpressing SELECT opens the Main Menu.

When the user first opens the main menu screen, the cursor appears onthe first option. If the user selects an option and then comes back tothis screen, the cursor remains on the last selected option. As with anyscrolling list in the IPG product (other examples include Actionpop-ups, the Themes screens, and the Grid Guide itself), it should beapparent at a glance whether or not there are additional items onadditional pages. If there is another page below the current page, asmall portion of the menu globe will be apparent at the bottom of thescreen as a prompt to the user. Similarly, if there are pages above thecurrent page, a small portion of the menu globe 164 will be apparent atthe top of the screen as shown in FIG. 19. It is possible for there tobe pages both above and below the current page. In that instance,portions of the menu globe would appear at both the top and bottom ofthe screen.

The Menu sub-items that pertain to the selected feature are displayed onthe right of the screen. At the top of the column, the header “PressSELECT to see” and the feature name direct the user to the feature. Ifthe feature has sub-items (for example. “Movies” would be a sub-itemunder “Theme Search”), then the list of sub-items are displayedunderneath the feature name on the right-hand side to show the user whatsorts of things can be done. As the user moves the cursor from menu itemto menu item, the sub-items at the right change, so that the user cananticipate what will happen if the feature is selected. If there aremore sub-items than can fit on the page, the word “more . . . ” isdisplayed at the bottom of the column, so that the user looking for aparticular sub-item is not mislead into thinking that all the sub-itemsare being displayed.

Preferably, most of the menu screens are drawn without help text,because the inclusion of the sub-menu column makes most of the menuitems self-explanatory. For those screens in which additional help textis necessary, help text is displayed at the bottom of the sub-menucolumn.

In one embodiment of the invention, the menu tabs at the top of the MainMenu allow the user easy access to at least five important features fromany screen. Two of these features, the Main Menu and the Grid Guide, arepreferably non-configurable. The other three features may be configuredby the MSO, in order to spotlight features that may benefit the userthat may not be easy to access any other way. The other three featurescan be the PPV Guide, the “About the MSO” screen (What's New), andThemes.

Pay-Per-View Ordering

Pay-Per-View ordering usually involves conflict resolution, because theguide is required to tune to the PPV channel at the start of a purchasedevent, and the guide must be aware of any other scheduled events thattake place at the same time. However, in another embodiment of theinvention, the ordering of PPV is handled at the network level and theIPG merely provides the UI to the scheduled purchases to display in theguides and in a Scheduled Events List as shown in FIG. 31.

Caller ID

The Caller ID feature includes three major components:

1. A pop-up that displays over a TV state or any guide screen, whichidentifies somebody calling as the phone is ringing;

2. A menu that allows the user to configure the display options for theCaller ID pop-up; and

3. A list screen that shows a log of past callers.

FIG. 20 shows a caller ID pop-up 166 overlaid on a full screentelevision program. When somebody calls the user on the telephone whilethe user is watching television, the IPG displays a caller ID pop-up.The elements of the pop-up comprises: A selectable “MENU” button 168, aselectable “EXIT” button 170, the caller's name (if available), thephone number from which the caller is calling (if available), and aphone icon, which could be animated to reinforce its relationship to theringing phone. FIG. 21 shows a caller ID pop-up overlaid on a guidescreen. If the pop-up is drawn over a guide screen, the pop-up isdeliberately drawn low enough on the screen so as not to obscure theMenu headers.

If the user presses SELECT while the “EXIT” button is highlighted, thepop-up is cleared from the screen. If the user moves the cursor to“MENU” and presses SELECT, the Telephone Services menu is displayed. Thepop-up times out in less than 60 seconds. The actual number of secondsfor which the pop-up is displayed can be selected on the “Caller IDSetup” menu.

Message Waiting Pop-up

Whenever there is a message to which the user has not yet listened, thenetwork sends a message to the residential gateway. At given periodsthroughout the day (no less frequently than every half-hour), the IPGdisplays a pop-up overlaid on the television program being watched, asshown in FIG. 22, overlaid on the television program being watched.

Similar to the Caller ID pop-up, the Message Waiting pop-up 172 displaysin the position shown in FIG. 22. The Message Waiting pop-up isdisplayed exactly as the Caller ID pop-up is displayed, for the sameduration and with the same properties, except that the text field says“You have a message” instead of indicating a name or number.

Telephone Services Menu

FIG. 23 shows a Telephone Services menu 174. The Telephone Services menuincludes all of the options available to the user for configuring eitherthe Caller ID pop-up or the Message Waiting pop-up, as well as viewingthe Caller ID log. The user can bring up the Telephone Services menu inseveral ways. For example, Selecting Telephone Services from the MainMenu brings up the Telephone Services menu. In particular, from the TVstate, the user can press MENU or GUIDE on the remote to display theMain Menu. The user then presses the ↑ or ↓ keys on the remote to movethe cursor to the menu tabs. The user presses the ← or → keys to movethe cursor to the “MENU” menu tab and presses SELECT. The user pressesthe ↑ or ← keys to move the cursor to the Telephone Services menu.Finally, the user presses select to display the Telephone Services menu.

In the alternative, selecting the “MENU” button on either the Caller IDor Messages Waiting pop-up also brings up the Telephone Services menu.The Telephone Services menu can also be entered by first pressing CALLID to display the Caller ID pop-up, second using the UP or DOWN keys tomove the cursor to the Menu button, and finally pressing SELECT todisplay the Telephone Services menu.

Once the user selects the Telephone Services menu, it is displayed, asshown in FIG. 23. In the preferred embodiment, the Telephone Servicesmenu is comprised of three options: (1) Caller ID Setup, Caller ID Log,and Message Setup. As with every menu screen, the user can select anoption from the menu by pressing ↑ or ←. to highlight an option and thenSELECT to choose it.

At the bottom of the sub-menu column is an area that displays help textfor each menu option. As the user moves the cursor from option tooption, the help text changes to describe the menu options. Thefollowing is a list of the menu options and the help text that appearswith each option:

Caller ID Setup. Select how you want the Caller ID pop-up to bedisplayed.

Caller ID Log. See a log of the people who have called you.

Message Setup. Select how you want the Message pop-up to be displayed.

Caller ID Setup Screen

The Caller ID Setup Screen is entered by selecting the Caller ID Logoption from the Telephone Services menu.

FIG. 24 shows a caller ID setup where the Caller ID is off on thetelevision. If the user selects Caller ID Setup from the TelephoneServices menu, the Caller ID Setup screen is displayed, as shown in FIG.24. Tin one embodiment, there are two options for configuring thedisplay of the Caller ID pop-up. The first option, Turn Caller ID Off onthis TV 176, allows the user to turn off the Caller ID pop-up on a givensource. (If the household is not configured for multi-source, thisoption is grayed-out.) The second option, Set Caller ID Display Time177, allows the set the duration of the display screens. The help text178 at the bottom of the screen explains the item to the user anddisplays the current state of the Caller ID display.

FIG. 25 shows a caller ID setup after the Caller ID is turned on. If theuser presses SELECT when the Caller ID is off, the menu option changesto Turn Caller ID on this TV 180 and the help text changes to reflectthe new state of the Caller ID display, as shown in FIG. 25. The usercan still display the Caller ID pop-up by pressing the CALL ID key onthe remote.

Finally, the second option, Set Caller ID Display Time 182, has helptext 178 and graphical arrows 184, as shown in FIG. 26.

The second option shows the user both graphically (as shown by thearrows) and verbally (as shown by the text) that the display durationcan be adjusted. In one embodiment, the display duration can be adjustedin one-second increments from one to fifty-nine seconds when the CallerID Setup is displayed. After placing the cursor over the Set Caller IDDisplay Time, arrows are displayed both to the left and to the right ofthe Set Caller ID Display Time. The left arrow indicates that thedisplay duration can be decremented by pressing the ← key on the remote.The right arrow indicates that the display duration can be incrementedby pressing the → key on the remote. Pressing the ← key on the remotedecrements the display duration one second and pressing the → key on theremote increments the display duration one second. To exit the Caller IDSetup screen and return to the Telephone Services menu, the user pressesEXIT. The ← is the LEFT key. The → is the RIGHT key.

Caller ID Log

When the user displays a Caller ID Log (see below), the IPG shows anaggregate list. If two users have the Caller ID Log displayed ondifferent sources and one user deletes a message, the deletion does notoccur on the log of the other source until that user closes the log.

The Caller ID Log is entered by selecting the Caller ID Log option fromthe Telephone Services menu. The Caller ID Log shows the user a list ofthe last N number of calls he or she has received, inreverse-chronological order (that is, the most recent call is displayedat the top of the list) where N can be a preset number or a user-definednumber.

In one embodiment of the invention, there exists a third field, SetNumber of Calls, on the Caller ID Setup screen for entering auser-defined number N. The third field operates much like the secondfield, Set Caller ID Display Time, operates.

That is, after the user places the cursor over the Set Number of Calls,arrows are displayed both to the left and to the right of Set Number ofCalls. The left arrow indicates that the number of calls N can bedecremented by pressing the ← key on the remote. The right arrowindicates that the number of calls N can be incremented by pressing theRIGHT key on the remote. Pressing the ← key on the remote decrements thenumber of calls N and pressing the → key on the remote increments thenumber of calls N.

In another embodiment, the preset number N is 50. Where the user alreadyhas the limit of N calls logged and receives a new Call, that call isdisplayed at the top of the log, and the N+1 item is deleted from thebottom of the log. Where the preset number N is 50, the 51st item isdeleted from the bottom of the log.

In yet another embodiment, the number of calls N is MSO-defined ratherthan user-defined, and is configured by the MSO at the network level.

The user can also delete items from the log selectively. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the Caller ID Log is notprotected by a Parental Control password.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the Caller ID Log isprotected by the Parental Control password. The Parental Controlpassword is set from a Parental Control menu. If the user has set apassword, then the IPG asks for the password when the user selectscaller ID log from the Telephone Services menu. FIG. 27 shows a parentalpassword prompt 186 for the Caller ID Log. Once the user correctlyenters the password, the Caller ID Log 188 is displayed, as shown inFIG. 28.

If an embodiment does not include a Parental Control password, then theCaller ID Log is displayed when the Caller ID Log is selected from theTelephone Services menu.

When the Caller ID Log is displayed, the cursor defaults to the topentry in the list, which is the most recent available entry. Thefollowing information is displayed on the log:

the name of the caller (if available);

the phone number of the caller;

the date of the call; and

the time of the call.

Calls that were logged the last time the user brought up the Caller IDLog are shown with a blue background. New calls that have been added tothe list since the last time the user displayed the Caller ID Log areshown with a red background.

FIG. 29 shows the Delete item from Caller ID Log pop-up 190, which isdisplayed if the user presses SELECT on any of the calls. The Caller IDLog pop-up allows the user to select whether or not to delete the item,clear the whole list, or return to the list.

Message Setup Screen

If the user selects Message Setup from the Telephone Services menu, theMessage Setup screen 192 is displayed. The options and layout of thisscreen are exactly the same as for the Caller ID Setup screen. The firstoption on this screen is whether to turn messages off/on the televisionand the second option lets the user set the message display time, asshown in FIG. 30.

While there have been described herein what are considered to bepreferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, othermodifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in theart from the teachings herein, and it is, therefore desired to besecured in the appended claims all such modifications and extensions asfall with within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Theinvention is to be construed as including all embodiments thereof thatfall within the scope of the appended claims and the invention shouldonly be limited by the appended claims below. In addition, one skilledin the art will readily appreciate that other applications may besubstituted for those set forth herein without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for managing a plurality of interactiveelectronic program guides (IPGs) each including television channelidentifications, program titles, and starting times, comprising: an IPGdata extractor for receiving telecast data and extracting IPG data fromthe telecast data for the plurality of IPGs; a first database forstoring information specific to each of the plurality of IPGs; a seconddatabase for storing information common to the plurality of IPGs; amemory for storing the first database and the second database; amicroprocessor coupled to the memory for processing the information forthe plurality of IPGs, wherein the IPG data extractor, the firstdatabase, the second database, the memory, and the microprocessor residein a single electronic device; a plurality of tuners coupled to themicroprocessor for receiving the telecast data and tuning to a pluralityof television channels respectively; and a plurality of displays fordisplaying the telecast data for the plurality of television channelsrespectively.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of displayssimultaneously display the telecast data of different televisionchannels respectively.
 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising anon-screen cheduled events list shared by the plurality of IPGs andincluding an aggregate list for individual recordings, future PPVpurchases, and scheduled tunes.
 4. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising means for customizing each of the plurality of IPGs.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4 wherein the means for customizing includes means fordisplaying a sorted list of the television channel identifications basedon favorite channels.
 6. The system of claim 4 wherein the means forcustomizing includes means for displaying only selected televisionchannel identifications.
 7. The system of claim 4 wherein thecustomization data for each of the plurality of IPGs is stored in aplurality of user profiles respectively.
 8. The system of claim 1further comprising at least one VChip coupled to the microprocessor forparental blocking of television programs based on a user-definedcriterion.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the VChip blocks thetelevision programs based on a plurality of ratings, the channelidentifications, the program titles, or the starting times.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1 further comprising means for supporting a hierarchy ofmultiple user passwords.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein thehierarchy of multiple user passwords includes a master password forallowing a user with the master password to block television programs,make changes to the plurality of IPGs, or override changes to theplurality of IPGs.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the IPG dataextractor, the memory, the microprocessor, and the plurality of tunersare embodied in a single package.
 13. A method for displaying aplurality of interactive electronic program guides (IPGs) in a guideformat comprising the steps of: receiving television programming dataincluding IPG data by an electronic device; extracting IPG data for theplurality of IPGs from the television programming data by the electronicdevice; storing in a memory data specific to each of the plurality ofIPGs; storing in the memory data common to the plurality of IPGs;processing the data for the plurality of IPGs by the electronic device;and displaying the plurality of IPGs on a plurality of displaysrespectively.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the displaying stepincludes simultaneously displaying the television programming data fordifferent television channels respectively.
 15. The method of claim 13further comprising displaying a scheduled events list shared by theplurality of IPGs and including an aggregate list for individualrecordings, future PPV purchases, and scheduled tunes.
 16. The method ofclaim 13 further comprising customizing each of the plurality of IPGs.17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of customizing includesdisplaying a sorted list of television channel identifications based onfavorite channels.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the customizingstep includes displaying only selected television channelidentifications.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the customizing stepincludes storing in a plurality of user profiles data for each of theplurality of IPGs respectively.
 20. The method of claim 13 furthercomprising the step of blocking television programs based on auser-defined criterion using at least one VChip coupled to themicroprocessor.
 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the blocking stepincludes blocking television programs specific to one of the pluralityof IPGs.
 22. The method of claim 20 wherein the blocking step includesblocking television programs specific to a user.
 23. The method of claim13 further comprising supporting a hierarchy of multiple user passwords.24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of supporting a hierarchy ofmultiple user passwords includes allowing a user with a master passwordto block television programs, make changes to the plurality of IPGs, oroverride changes to the plurality of IPGs.
 25. A television set-top boxfor generating a plurality of interactive electronic program guides(IPGs) each including television channel identifications, programtitles, and starting times, comprising: an IPG data extractor forreceiving telecast data and extracting IPG data from the telecast datafor the plurality of IPGs; a first database for storing informationspecific to each of the plurality of IPGs; a second database for storinginformation common to the plurality of IPGs; a memory for storing thefirst database and the second database; a single microprocessor coupledto the memory for processing the information for the plurality of IPGs;and a plurality of tuners coupled to the microprocessor for receivingthe telecast data and tuning to a plurality of television channelsrespectively.
 26. A system for managing a plurality of interactiveelectronic program guides (IPGs) each including television channelidentifications, program titles, and starting times, comprising: an IPGdata extractor for receiving telecast data and extracting IPG data fromthe telecast data for the plurality of IPGs; a first database forstoring information specific to each of the plurality of IPGs; a seconddatabase for storing information common to the plurality of IPGs; amemory means for storing the first database and the second database; amicroprocessor means coupled to the memory means for processing theinformation for the plurality of IPGs, wherein the IPG data extractor,the first database, the second database, the memory, and themicroprocessor reside in a single electronic device; a plurality oftuners coupled to the microprocessor for receiving the telecast data andtuning to a plurality of television channels respectively; and anon-screen scheduled events list shared by the plurality of IPGsincluding an aggregate list for at least one of individual recordings,future PPV purchases, or scheduled tunes.